by Rod Pearson
Monday, Oct 12, 2026
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
Where to Watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Ohio State -3.5, Indiana +3.5; Over/Under: 50.5 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Ohio State -3.5, Indiana +3.5; Over/Under: 50.5 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Ohio State -3.5, Indiana +3.5; Over/Under: 50.5 points
Season Record
Ohio State Buckeyes: 5-1 (3-0) (3rd place, Big Ten)
Indiana Hoosiers: 6-0 (3-0) (1st place, Big Ten)
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Recent Form
Ohio State Buckeyes: won their last game at home against the Maryland Terrapins 45-16.
Indiana Hoosiers: won their last game on the road against the Nebraska Cornhuskers 20-17.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Indiana Hoosiers Preview and Analysis
Ohio State is entering this game with a 5-1 record overall and they have a 3-0 record in their conference games too. They are 4-0 in their home games, 1-1 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against Maryland 45-16. Julian Sayin was the starting QB and he completed 13/21 passes for 242 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Bo Jackson led the team in rushing yards with 107 and 2 TDs. Jeremiah Smith led the receivers with 93 receiving yards on 4 receptions and 2 TDs. Jaylen McClain led the defense in that game with 8 tackles while no one on the defense recorded a sack for them. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.
Indiana is entering this game with a 6-0 record overall and they have a 3-0 record in their conference games too. They are 4-0 in their home games, 2-0 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against Nebraska 20-17. Josh Hoover was the starting QB and he completed 12/22 passes for 263 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Lee Beebe Jr. led the team in rushing yards with 31. Nick Marsh led the receivers with 187 receiving yards on 6 receptions and 2 TDs. Amare Ferrell and Isaiah Jones each led the defense in that game with 9 tackles while Stephen Daley led the defense in sacks with 2. Jamari Sharpe came away with the only interception for them in that one.
Ohio State vs Indiana Prediction
The current betting odds have Ohio State listed as a 3.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Ohio State has looked good in their games this season with their 5-1 record overall and their 3-0 conference record which has them right near the top of the Big Ten. They haven't been a great road team though with their 1-1 road record this year. Meanwhile, Indiana has looked great in their games this season with their 6-0 record overall and their 3-0 conference record which has them right at the top of the Big Ten. They have looked great on their home field too with their 4-0 home record this season. Indiana is still undefeated and they haven't lost a game in well over a year now, but they don't look like the same team that won the National Championship last season. They have definitely taken a step back this year, having a lot of trouble against lesser opponents who they were blowing out last season, and now they are coming off a 20-17 win over Nebraska which they barely escaped. Indiana was trailing for most of that game and found a way to come back late, but they won't be able to do that against a better team like Ohio State with one of the best defenses in the nation. Ohio State is coming off a 45-16 win over Maryland in their last one and they have been rolling since their only loss of the year. That loss was on the road against Texas, but they were in complete control of that game before letting it slip away late for a 1 point loss. That loss has fueled them though and Ohio State will definitely bring their best effort here for the team that beat them in the Big Ten Championship just a season ago. The best way to place a bet here is on Ohio State to cover the spread in this game.
Ohio State Indiana Prediction: Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, October 17, 2026 (12:00 pm ET start time) is Ohio State 20 Indiana 13.
Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Ohio State Buckeyes Indiana Hoosiers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAF predictions and previews.
NCAAF Betting Trends
Ohio State Buckeyes: 25-11 ATS as a road favorite of 7 points or less. 23-13 ATS in a road game where the total is between 49.5 and 56. 84-50 ATS vs. good offensive teams - scoring 31 or more points/game. 44-37 OVER on the road off a home win against a conference rival.
Indiana Hoosiers: 14-25 ATS as a home underdog of 7 points or less. 46-63 ATS when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 75%). 45-62 ATS versus good rushing defenses - allowing 120 rushing yards/game or less. 38-21 OVER in a home game where the total is between 49.5 and 56.
Key Injuries
Ohio State Buckeyes: L. Bey (RB) Questionable - Undisclosed. A. Valerio-Hudson (WR) Questionable - Undisclosed. T. Rogers (RB) Questionable - Undisclosed. B. Christian (TE) Questionable - Undisclosed.
Indiana Hoosiers: None.
Notable Quotes
“We've got to get this stuff fixed. There's too much at stake here.” - Ryan Day after his team’s win against Maryland in their last game.
“I'm not sure it's completely sunk it — it's starting to — that we won because it took everything the players and coaches had in that one to find a way to overcome. Give Nebraska a lot of credit. We did a nice job of regrouping at halftime. Great win on the road, hard fought. A win like that has a lot of value.” - Curt Cignetti after his team’s win against Nebraska in their last game.
Starting Lineups
Ohio State Buckeyes
WR Smith, Jeremiah
WR McCuin, Devin
WR Inniss, Brandon
TE Roberts, Nate
QB Sayin, Julian
RB Jackson, Bo
Indiana Hoosiers
WR Marsh, Nick
WR Becker, Charlie
WR Morris, Tyler
TE Barker, Andrew
QB Hoover, Josh
RB Richard, Turbo
Statistical Leaders
Ohio State Buckeyes
Passing: Julian Sayin (1,772)
Rushing: Bo Jackson (460)
Receiving: Jeremiah Smith (916)
Touchdowns: Jeremiah Smith (11)
Indiana Hoosiers
Passing: Josh Hoover (1,364)
Rushing: Turbo Richard (597)
Receiving: Charlie Becker (529)
Touchdowns: Charlie Becker (8)
Coaches:
Ohio State Buckeyes: Ryan Day (9th season)
Indiana Hoosiers: Curt Cignetti (3rd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
